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A planning inspector has had the final say on the project
Plans for holiday accommodation and new horse-riding facilities put forward by former Wales rugby international Justin Tipuric have been given the go-ahead on appeal.
Three two-bedroom lodges will be installed along with a new stable block and manege – or riding area – in place of dilapidated outbuildings on a farm north of Morriston, Swansea.
The development off Rhydypandy Road is aimed at visitors who enjoy horse-riding. Planning agents GJP said in a planning statement on behalf of Mr Tipuric it would target a niche market which wasn’t well catered for in the north of the county and that the lodges would be modest in size and like static caravans.
Council planning officers said in a report that benefits the scheme may offer to the local economy and tourism were outweighed by highway safety concerns – specifically inadequate visibility splays and “unacceptable” narrowing of the carriageway. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here
An appeal submitted by GJP argued the application had shown how a suitably-designed access could be provided and reiterated that a secondary access from the land onto Rhydypandy Road would be stopped up for vehicle use. It contended the proposed new arrangements would benefit drivers on Rhydypandy Road as well as visitors and said no carriageway narrowing was planned.
The council maintained its objection and said examination of the plans showed the carriageway would be narrowed. It recommended a number of planning conditions should the appeal be allowed.
A Welsh Government-appointed planning inspector has now had the final say and approved the application subject to conditions. The inspector, Paul Selby, was satisfied with the proposed visibility splays and said he wasn’t persuaded that the carriageway “would be substantially or frequently narrowed, including by emerging vehicles”.
His decision report added: “The evidence also demonstrates that there would be sufficient space for vehicles entering and leaving the site to pass one another within the junction limiting the need for reversing manoeuvres within the highway, includes vehicles towing horseboxes.”
An application for costs was turned down by Mr Selby. The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked GJP if Mr Tipuric, a former Ospreys flanker and current defence coach who earned 93 Wales caps, wished to comment but didn’t receive a response at the time of going to press.
